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Hey, Ya'll,

This month's layouts just go to show that you don't have to spend hours on your layouts to be a Memory Keeper. Now, sometimes it is fun to spend a lot of time "playing" with cool new colors and supplies but you really don't have to have that much stuff to get your stories recorded. : ) So, do what you can. Don't feel guilty that you don't have perfect chronological albums for everyone in your family. Just do 1 layout and it will be more than you had before. Chances are, you'll do more and then more when you see that it doesn't have to take tons of time.

What's Semi New?

Facebook Fan page and Pinterest!!!

I'm really enjoying my Facebook page. I love being able to post in snippets instead of feeling like I have to write a lot for a blog post. So come on over and check it out. You'll find inspiration to set your timer and get your scrapbooking done!

Also, let me know what you’d like to see included in upcoming issues. Send me a line at rachel@free-scrapbooking-ideas-and-videos.com. You might have to go through my contact page at the main site because that address has heavy spam filters on it...I might not get it if you just send it from your email program. : )

For Member’s Only…

When you subscribe to The Real-Life Scrapbooker’s Resource, you get access to all of the back issues. Every issue is filled with exclusive layouts and ideas. You won’t find any of the layouts or card designs anywhere on free-scrapbooking-ideas-and-videos.com so it’s a FREE Member’s Only area. Every month you can count on fresh, free ideas for your scrapbooking! And here’s another thought. Every month, put the new issue in a folder in your email software and when you sit down to scrapbook, you’ll have tons of ideas right at your fingertips.

This was super simple to make. Adhering all those circle punches under and on top of the photo wasn't quite as easy. I opted to use glue which I usually don't use. It did make it a bit warped when it dried...oh well...nothing is ever perfect. : ) Overall, I was very pleased with the look, though. The story here is about the boy's Aunt Anna Rie getting them Gameboy Advances for their birthdays. I also included some journaling about a few other things since I don't keep a regular journal anymore. I usually use a "then/now" style of journaling. I write about the photo on the page and what is going on in my life right now when I'm doing the layout.

I used 4 different paper scraps to punch out the circles. On one of them I used a "thank you" stamp and on one I added a black brad just for some interest. The embellishment on the bottom right is just the leftover scrap from punching out the circles. I just attached it with staples. Can you see how to make cheap scrapbooking layouts?...use those scraps. You don't have to buy expensive embellishment packs if you don't want to. I know sometimes I want the fun pre-packaged embellishments but it is nice to know I can create great pages without them.

There really isn't a title for this one

What? No title? I know, I know...I broke a "scrapbooking rule": ). I just wanted this layout to be super clean and graphic. I like it that way sometimes. I used the background paper and then added the grey card stock scrap and the green print scrap and then the 3 metallic eyelets and did my hand journaling and that's it! So simple! You can do it too! Just set your timer for 15 minutes and get it done. : )

I’d love to see what you’ve been up to. I’ll pick 2 or 3 for each issue and publish them along with your photo (if you want) and a bio about your real life scrapbooking adventures. So, send them to Rachel@free-scrapbooking-ideas-and-videos.com with “e-zine layout submission” in the subject line.

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